Unbeaten Perth filly Whispering Brook landed in Melbourne on Tuesday morning ahead of her first eastern states test in Saturday’s Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley.
Chris Parnham will ride unbeaten filly Whispering Brook at Moonee Valley. Photo: Darryl Sherer
Whispering Brook proved herself to be the best two-year-old in WA last season with five wins from as many starts but trainer Simon Miller has set her for a Group I target in Melbourne during the spring.
“The 1000 Guineas is her main mission,” Miller said. “From this run Saturday, she’ll go to the Guineas Prelude over the 1400m at Caulfield, which will be ideal.
“I’m looking forward to the mile because I reckon she’ll get that and from there, I don’t know where we’ll head. Possibly the Wakeful (Stakes) or something else.”
Miller said sending Whispering Brook on a cross-country flight on the Monday night before a Saturday race was the best way to prepare the daughter of Hinchinbrook for her first-up outing.
“She had her final gallop here (Perth) on Monday and then I put her on a plane last night and she flew over overnight,” Miller said.
“I’ve been able to keep her in her own environment for as long as I can.
“It’s a good thing and I’m really happy with her. She had a good gallop, flew over there and settled in well and ate up when she got there this morning.”
Chris Parnham has the task of guiding Whispering Brook around her maiden start on the unique Moonee Valley circuit.
Miller said Whispering Brook should handle Moonee Valley while the likelihood of a soft track on Saturday was a slight unknown for his charge.
“She trialled on a slow or soft track this time in and she got through but trials to racedays is different pressure,” Miller said.
“She looks like she’s the right one to bring across but it’s like any horse from WA. You don’t know if they’re the right one until they strut their stuff because it’s hard to weigh up without the formlines to cross reference.
“The Valley is another unknown but good horses generally handle the Valley.”
racenet